Video: Moment of Silence on Israel’s Memorial Day

Israel has a very unique tradition on Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). An air raid siren will go off and everyone will stop what they are doing for 2 minutes. People in their cars will stop wherever they are and get out to stand.

This video was taken at 10:58 am today (Yom HaZikaron) just before and during the siren which went off at 11 am. At about the 1:25 mark in the video the siren goes off. The sound isn’t very good so beware. The video covers the entire length of the siren. You can see the motorists standing alongside their cars, and then getting back in and moving once the siren is over.

The video is also in High Definition. Click on the HD button.

4 thoughts on “Video: Moment of Silence on Israel’s Memorial Day”

  1. Oh my gosh! I can’t believe youw ere right under my house less than a week ago and I didn’t even know it!
    And that’s not even an expression, the hostel you were in front of while taking this ivdeo is on the same block as my house!

  2. Yes, it is really refreshing to see a society that takes its memorials so seriously! We were just in Israel for the past couple of weeks–and in Jerusalem during their national holidays–eve of Memorial Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. Memorial Day, in particular, is an extremely poignant occasion. The families of those who serve in the military take this very seriously, as they should. Our Memorial Day observance has become a play day compared to the Israelis’ observance. We also attended the official services at the Western Wall at the start of Memorial Day (evening) and at Mount Herzl the following morning (there was another service that evening at the Mount of Olives, but we were unable to go). The first two were surreal, especially the military cemetery on Mount Herzl where families and friends gathered around every single grave. The government provides gratuitous floral bouquets and candles for people to lay at each grave. People also bring their own wreaths and floral bouquets. It was a very eye-opening experience. These people know the precious cost paid for their right to exist as the modern State of Israel. The rest of the world has no comprehension of such a thing. For the Israeli Jews and a minority group of Druze (mostly in the Golan Heights), service in the military is mandatory. The government grants exemptions to the majority of Arab nationals. As a result, this observance is, by and large, meaningful to the Jewish community, which provides the majority of the national security for all. Memorial Day is also an observance for victims of battle or terrorism, even if they did not serve in the military. I wish that every citizen of every other nation of the world could experience first-hand the Israeli Memorial Day, in particular, to see their heartfelt patriotism and respect for those who have fallen.

  3. This is really cool video Gary :)

    Israel is great place to see along with its Traditional culture.

  4. Wow. Thanx for sharing that with us. It is nice to see a culture that takes their memorials so seriously :-)

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